Content Management Instruction for new Society Web Pages

Dear Society Leaders,

Our Information Systems department has set up on-line classes for those of you interested in content management instruction for the new WPAOG society web pages.  You or a representative may be interested in attending one of these sessions, particularly if you were not able to attend the recent Leaders’ Conference.  The sessions will be offered on 19 Sep (1400-1600) and 26 Sep (1400-1600).  To register, go to www.westpointaog.org; click on the “Get Involved” tab across the top; scroll down to “Upcoming Events.”

Leaders’ Conference materials are also posted on our website now.  You must log in to access them.  Go to www.westpointaog.org and log in with your Cullum number and password.  On the homepage, click on “read more” under the Vice Chief/Leaders’ Conference news.  There you will find links to all conference materials.

Best regards,

Maryellen
 

Maryellen Picciuto '86
Director, Organizational Support
West Point Association of Graduates
698 Mills Road    West Point, NY  10996
845-446-1569  or  800-BE-A-GRAD x1569
Fax:  845-446-1695
maryellen.picciuto@usma.edu
www.westpointaog.org

Brick Progam and August Schedule

The Brick Project for the Saturn V Apollo courtyard is moving forward.  As of this weekend, we have obtained approval of West Point to use the Academy Crest on the large brick and the process of getting the brick manufacturer licensed to engrave the crest is also in process.  (It will be a one time license.)  At this time there will be a total of 15 Bricks with two names on each.  This will be for the 18 Astronauts from West Point and for 12 other West Pointers who contibuted to the early Army and NASA programs leading and including the Saturn V/Apollo launches.  John Zierdt was able to indentify many of the non-astronauts and we have gotten names from other societies and classes.  I will have Mike Lyman update the list on the website and will include some of the background on the non-astronauts.

If you have not made a contribution to this project, please consider doing so.  Any donation is tax deductable, because 100% is going to the Space and Rocket Center's Saturn V restroration project.  You can either donate by going to the website or by sending me or Mike Moran a check made out to WPSTV.  The websites are:

http://www.west-point.org/society/wps-tenn-valley/  or

http://www.west-point.org/society/wps-tenn-valley/content/view/48/1/

I am planning on presenting to the Space and Rocket Center the check with the list of bricks we are purchasing next week.  If we get more names after that date, we will still be able to add to the list.

August Schedule is a little different than the other months.  There will be no luncheon on the third Tuesday.  Instead we will have the "August Event".  This is an opportunity for all us together in the late afternoon/early evening with spouse or guest and prepare for the upcoming Football season, discuss programs that are coming along in the fall, and I will report out anything new from the AOG Leadership Conference at West Point (being held 16 -18 August.)  This year the August Event will be held on the 30th of August at 1730 hours upstairs in the FireHouse Pub on the Arsenal.  We will not be buying a Keg of beer this year, but will have a open tab from the bar along with a few snacks.  The club provides the hamburgers and hot dogs.  (I will send out a reminder, again.)  This is the Thursday before the Labor Day Weekend, so those of you who are planning a long weekend, can actually get it started an evening early.

Art Meier '63

Honoring West Point’s Contribution to Space

January 2008 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the United States in Space. Explorer I was launched by the US Army Ballistic Missile Agency via a Jupiter-C missile, which was a modified Redstone Rocket, from Cape Canaveral, FL on the 31st of January 1958.  The Army Ballistic Missile Agency was headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Art Meier presents the check for the bricks.

Image here:Art Meier presents the check for the bricks.

The US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama will be marking this Anniversary with the dedication of the Saturn V Center.  The Center, which is on land donated by Redstone Arsenal, will be housing a Restored Saturn V, one of only three in existence, inside a newly constructed steel and glass facility that will be visible from Interstate Highway 565.  Adjacent is an upright full scale replica of the Saturn V and around this replica will be the Apollo Courtyard.

West Pointers, over the years, have contributed in numerous ways to the Exploration of Space, just as they have done with every engineering feat the Nation has undertaken since 1802.  The Apollo Courtyard will honor individuals who have contributed to the Exploration of Space and in particular to those who contributed to the Saturn V/ Apollo programs which took Americans to the Moon.  They can be honored by the purchase of Bricks for the courtyard which will assist in the restoration of the Saturn V which will be displayed inside the center.

The West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley has decided to honor the West Pointers who have been or are currently Astronauts as they have, and are continuing, to contribute to the Exploration of Space, by the purchase of bricks with their names and class year.  It is recognized that there are many more West Pointers who were involved as Engineers/Program Managers on early ABMA programs leading to the NASA Saturn V / Apollo program, and where we have been able to identify those individuals, they are also being recognized.  The Society is going to purchase an 8″x8″ brick with the West Point Crest with the words “USMA’s Leadership in Space and Astronauts”.  In addition we are going to purchase 8″x4″ bricks with the individual names and class, with two names per brick.  These smaller bricks will be arrayed around the larger brick.  Currently, we have identified sixteen West Point NASA Astronauts and one Army Program Manager.  The seventeen are listed below.  If you are aware of other West Pointers who were instrumental in the early Army programs, such as the Jupiter-C and Explorer programs, please notify me, so that we can add their names to the bricks.  The order need to be submitted quickly.

If you would like to contribute to this effort you can donate online.  If the majority of the members of our Society each contribute $10, we will easily make our goal.   All contributions will be used to purchase the bricks or will be donated to the Saturn V Restoration Project, if there is any excess.

West Point Astronauts
Frank Borman ‘50
Buzz Aldrin ‘51
Ed White ‘52
Michael Collins ‘52
David Scott ‘54
Alfred Worden ‘55
Donald Peterson ‘55
Richard Mullane‘67
Sherwood Spring ‘67
James Adamson ‘69
William McArthur ‘73
Michael Clifford ‘74
Patrick Forrester ‘79
Charles Gemar ‘79
Jeffery Williams ‘80
Douglas Wheelock ‘83
Tim Kopra ‘85
Shane Kimbrough ‘89

Graduates involved in Explorer I through Apollo program
Holger N. Toftoy ‘26
August Schomburg ‘31
Francis J. McMorrow ‘33
John A. Barclay ‘31
Edward P. Mohlere ‘36
John G. Zierdt ‘37
John C. Nickerson ‘38
Lee Boyer James ‘43
Edmond O’Conner ‘43
Robert M. Pearce ‘44
Rocco Petrone ‘46
Richard C. Henry ‘49
John G. Albert ‘49
John E. Miller ‘49
Robert Douglass ‘50
C. Friedlander ‘50
John G. Jones ‘50
Grayson d. Tate ‘50
John P. Jones ‘53
Jay W. Gould  ‘54
Edward Olivares ‘57
George Kannapel ‘56
Robert Sheridan ‘56
Jim Castle ‘58

Monthly Luncheon After Action

The June monthly luncheon was held at the ROCC in the “Loft” today at 1130.  We held the drawing for the free football tickets and the winner is Robert Plummer.  (Robert, please let know where to send the certificate.)  There were 10 folks who signed up the tickets.

The annual pre-football season get together will be held on the 30th of August this year at the Firehouse Pub at 1730 hours.  Instead of purchasing the keg of beer, which we never seemed to be able finish, we will have an open bar.  More later.

There was some discussion about the Army GA Tech game, but we decided not to try and get a bus.  However, we will keep everyone informed of what the Atlanta Society may be doing for tailgating etc and who from here might be going.  We may be able to set up some sort of listing on the Website.

The last item was a discussion of purchasing brick(s) for the Saturn V project to recognize the West Point Astronauts.  As some of you may know, during the 200th anniversary celebration of the Academy, we put up a small display in the USSRC to recognize the role of West Point in Space.  By purchasing bricks we can further that recognition.  The idea is to purchase a large brick with the West Point Logo and some words (TBD), and individual bricks with the names of West Point Astronauts and their class. (two names per brick).  We will have more info later on the website and in emails, and yes, we will be asking for donations ($10) to help make this a reality.

See what you all are missing by not coming to the luncheons!  Besides the food is good and the company is outstanding.

Art Meier ‘63

June Luncheon, et. al

The June Luncheon will be held next Tuesday 19 Jun at 1130 hours at the ROCC.  The Room has been changed (only the name) to the Loft! 

At the meeting we will conduct the drawing for the four free football tickets.  According to our website, numerous folks have put their names in the hat.  The cut off for submitting the names is this Friday, but the drawing will not be held until Tuesday.  You do not need to be present to win, but it would be nice if the winner were present!

This Thursday is Flag Day and the Military Coalition is having a ceremony down in the Veteran’s Memorial Park, downtown Huntsville.  (Monroe Street between Jefferson and Washington Streets)   The ceremony begins at 1030.  Probably about 30 minutes.

Mike Lyman has revamped our website, please take a look at it.  It is now easier to use.   Hope to see a crowd on Tuesday the 19th.

http://www.west-point.org/society/wps-tenn-valley/

Art Meier ‘63
BEAT NAVY

Participation in Memorial Day Ceremonies – Maple Hill Cemetary

All,

This year’s Memorial Day program in the City of Huntsville will be on Monday, May 28 at 10:30 am at Maple Hill Cemetery.

The guest speaker will be Brigadier General D. Brooks Hodges  III, Commanding General, 142d Signal Brigade, Alabama Army National Guard, and a veteran of Afghanistan.

Ceremonies will honor our Veterans and their families.

Patriotic music will be performed by The Huntsville Concert Band. 

Huntsville Area & Madison County leaders & the public are invited to attend.

This year the program is organized and presented by Jewish War Veterans of USA (JWV) Post 111 & Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #26 as part of the North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organizations Coalition.

***********************************************

If your organization wishes to participate (post colors, wreaths, etc.) please contact Bill Goldberg at the phone number and/or e-mail address below with the following information:

Type of presentation (if flags, indicate how many)

Number and names of persons participating

Organization represented

Please respond no later than May 21st so that we can properly prepare. Thank you very much.

Send replies to:

Dr. William Goldberg
256-705-5378
william.goldberg@guestassociates.com

Alabama Send Off for Class of 2011, June 9th in Birmingham

Would you mind getting the message out to the Grad's in our area? Here is the message I've sent to the cadets, parents and now Grads.

Thanks,

Marcie

" I am inviting you to the Alabama Send Off for the Class of 2011 on June 9, 2007 in Birmingham, Alabama. This event is the same one you all may have attended prior to reporting for R-Day and is a standing tradition of our club to mentor and encourage the coming classes of candidates from our state. The upcoming Yearling Class and parents are especially encouraged to support this event. All current Cadets and Graduates are invited, please send and RSVP to Caroline Wilson at (256) 880-8366 or CWharski@aol.com . Lunch is provided by the West Point Parents Club of Alabama. " 

Please see the link below for Time, Location, Directions and RSVP.

http://www.west-point.org/parent/wppc-alabama/Sendoff2011.html

Here’s the latest headcount of candidates from Alabama (20 for USMA and 4 for USMAPS):

Towns represented: Alabaster -1, Northport -1 , Brownsboro -1, Owens Cross Roads -1, Boaz -1, Madison –3, Huntsville –2, Birmingham –2, Enterprise –1, Dothan –1, New Brockton -1, Pleasant Grove -1, Mobile –3, Montgomery –2, Tuscaloosa -1, Decatur –1, and Killen -1

Sincerely,

Gary & Marcie Kennedy
Co-Presidents West Point Parents Club of Alabama